Fire Wolf: CINAED (New Scotia Pack Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

of the first migration and had attended many Gatherings, newcomers balked at the idea of partying with other tribes. Roughly half felt like moving to a new world was enough adventure for a while.
    Cloud drove a wagon with supplies including extra clothes and bedding. That left Win, Starfire, and the king free to travel in wolf form. They meandered here and there, but never lost sight of the wagon.
    Windwalker and NightCloud were almost as excited as Starfire, but their maturity made them more reluctant to show it. They’d never been to a gathering of multiple shifter tribes. So their excitement was as much curiosity as anything.
    Though Starfire wouldn’t admit it, her excitement took on an image that strongly resembled Cinaed. She couldn’t wait to see him again and had made up her mind that, when she did, she wasn’t going to be shy.
    They left two days before the full moon in a caravan of ox-drawn wagons and an enormous pack of wolves. Several of Starfire’s unmated friends were going. They ran and played and nipped at each other along the way.
    Every Gathering meant three days away from home, which was one of the reasons why everyone didn’t attend. The first day, Esbat Eve, the day before the full moon, was for traveling and getting settled at the encampment. The intertribal Council met on the full moon during the day. Those not involved socialized and performed chores necessary to feeding hundreds of shifters. The night was open for celebrating the full moon according to individual taste, which meant wolf fur or human skin, dancing or drinking, and so on.
    Starfire rejoined her family before they reached the Gathering grounds. Even though only half the wolves expected had arrived, she was overwhelmed by the numbers. She’d never seen so many shifters and hadn’t even suspected that so many existed. Anywhere.
    As alpha of one of the four colonies, Stalkson Grey had an actual cabin assigned for use by himself and his family. It was three rooms; a small living room and two sleeping rooms just big enough for beds. The first thing Cloud did was to pull the linens and blankets out of the wagon.
    “ Stop standing around with your mouth open, Star, and help me make the beds.” She chuckled at Starfire’s reaction to the number of busy shifters and the excited atmosphere of pitching tents, stacking firewood, and gearing up for festival.
    After readying the beds, Cloud stowed a sleeping bag at the end of a couch in the living room. “You sleep here,” she told Star. “So go on. I know you’re dying to get with your friends and look around.”
    Starfire grinned. “If you’re sure you don’t need help with anything else…”
    “Go on with you.”
    Star had dressed in jeans, roughout boots with fleece lining, and a thin, but long-sleeved shirt with a print of various moon phases on it. She didn’t spot any of her friends so she decided to wander around.
    A half hour later she passed a huge open-sided tent with picnic-style tables and benches. From the smell of cooking meat, she surmised that people were there to eat. Her breath hitched when she drew closer and saw that Cinaed was seated at one of the outer tables, drinking from a tankard with a couple of men, and looking right at her.
    She wouldn’t say his expression was welcoming, but she pushed on as if it were.
    “Hi,” she said when she reached the table.
    She glanced at the two men with him. The rakish-looking one with stunning looks, raised an eyebrow and said, “Hi,” almost as if he was mocking her.
    “Ken,” he said, “do ye know the lass currently lookin’ at ye as if ye were an ice cream cone?”
    Cinaed looked at him with irritation. “This is Win’s niece by marriage, Starfire. She lives with our uncle and cousin.”
    “Starfire,” said the big fellow in a voice that managed to be gruff and friendly at the same time.” “I’m Liulf, Ken’s oldest brother.”
    “I’m Conn,” said the pretty one, grinning. “The other